Lane Cove Council
Private building certifier in Lane Cove North
Two councils share Lane Cove North, so step one is finding out which one your house answers to. From there, CertifiBuild certifies houses, granny flats, pools and Class 10 structures across both sides.
NSW 2066
Class 1 homes and Class 10 structures
Local rules
One suburb, two councils, two sets of rules
Where the boundary runs
Lane Cove North covers about 230 hectares. Roughly 59% falls under Lane Cove Council and the remaining 41% under Willoughby City Council. The Lane Cove part uses the Lane Cove LEP 2009 and its DCP. The Willoughby part uses the Willoughby LEP 2012 and that council's own DCP. Two homes across a street from each other may answer to different plans.
What changes across the line
All the high density R4 land, with its taller height limits, belongs to the Lane Cove portion. The Willoughby portion is mostly R2 housing, capped at 8.5 metres in height. Lane Cove sets the minimum lot at 550 square metres, while Willoughby usually sets 650. Acid sulfate soil mapping only appears in the Willoughby part.
Bushland edges
Bushfire prone mapping covers close to one third of Lane Cove North, taking in the only category 1 bushfire vegetation anywhere within Lane Cove Council, near reserves such as Batten Reserve and Stringybark Reserve. Neither plan maps a heritage conservation area here.
Typical work
Common projects and how they get approved
What owners build here
Most dwellings in Lane Cove North are flats, which sit outside our scope. On the house lots, typical Class 1 and 10 work includes:
- Alterations, additions and rebuilds, assessed under whichever council's plan covers the lot.
- New homes and decks on blocks with bushfire mapping, built to the required bushfire construction level.
- Granny flats and dual occupancies in the R2 zone, with lot size rules that vary between councils.
- Pools, where acid sulfate mapping on Willoughby lots can affect how deep and how you excavate.
- Carports and garages on established house lots, including double garages on wider lots.
How approval usually works
Start every Lane Cove North job by confirming the council, the LEP and the DCP that apply. After that, look at bushfire mapping. On a bushfire prone lot, new homes and additions must meet the state's bushfire planning guide, and that land is also left out of the newer state housing rules for low and mid-rise homes. A CDC (a fast-track approval under state rules) may still suit many houses, provided the lot meets the code standards. In the Willoughby part, check acid sulfate mapping before planning a pool or basement. No town centre sits inside the suburb, so any state housing catchment comes from Chatswood or Artarmon station. CertifiBuild sorts out which council and which maps apply before design work begins, then stays responsive through construction.
Our services
From approval to sign-off.
One certifier for your whole Lane Cove North job, from the first plan check to the occupation certificate.
Local questions
Questions we hear about this suburb.
No two lots in Lane Cove North are the same. Give us your address and we will check every map that affects it.
See the council pageWhich council covers my house in Lane Cove North?
That comes down to where the council line runs past your lot. About 59% of Lane Cove North falls under Lane Cove Council, using Lane Cove LEP 2009 and its DCP, and about 41% under Willoughby City Council, using Willoughby LEP 2012 and its own DCP. Even neighbours facing each other across a road may answer to different plans. A planning certificate confirms the council, along with the heights, minimum lot sizes and mapping, such as acid sulfate soils, that apply. Get one before design starts.
Will bushfire rules affect my extension near the reserve?
Yes, where your lot appears on the bushfire prone map. Bushfire mapping takes in nearly one third of the suburb, including the sole patch of category 1 bushfire vegetation in Lane Cove Council, near reserves such as Batten Reserve and Stringybark Reserve. An extension on mapped land must follow the state’s bushfire planning guide, and the assessed level then sets details like cladding, decking and windows. Mapped land also misses out on the state’s newer low-rise and mid-rise housing changes. Check the map early, since the rating affects design and cost.
How big must my block be to build a duplex here?
Under Lane Cove Council’s plan, two attached dwellings need a minimum of 750 square metres, and two detached dwellings need 900, even though the general minimum lot there is 550. The Willoughby side applies its own controls, with a usual minimum lot of 650 square metres, so confirm which council covers your land before sketching. Dual occupancies are generally considered in the R2 zone. Bushfire mapping may add construction requirements, and on Willoughby lots acid sulfate soils can affect excavation. Get a survey to confirm the exact area.
Building in this suburb?
Send us the address first.
We check the local maps for your lot, confirm the approval path and quote in writing.